1815 - 1817 Scroll Book - Nine Incorporated Trades of Dundee

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future the Meetings of the Guildry should, in general, be held at 7 o’clock in the evening. This proposal was unanimously approved of. The Preses having left the Chair the Meeting unanimously voted thanks to him for the propriety of his conduct. Unto the Honourable the Magistrates of the Burgh of Dundee and the remanent Members of the Toun Council The Petition of the Subscribers Members of the Guildry Incorporation of Dundee Humbly Sheweth That the Guildry Incorporation having in the year 1815 instituted an investigation onto their Ancient Rights and Privileges, they discovered that by the Charter of Erection their Dean and other officer bearers were appointed to be elected by the suffrages of the Members, but that by some change (the cause of which has not been discovered) The Toun Council afterwards acquired the right of electing the Dean. That the Incorporation being anxious to regain the right of electing the Dean they applied in 1815 to the Magistrates & Council to restore it to the Guildry, and the Magistrates and Council with the advice and consent of the Nine Incorporated Trades were of this date pleased to adopt the following resolutions on that subject. “At Dundee the ninth day of August 1815 Which day, the Provost, Magistrates, Trades and remanent Members of the Toun Council of Dundee being met and convened in Council consulting upon their affairs of the Burgh; and the communications from the Guildry having been considered, and it appearing that the Guildry now rest their claim solely on their Chartered Rights the Council on the most mature deliberation fully recognise, first the justice and expediency of the Guildry’s resuming the election of the Assessors to the Dean of Guild, their Collector and officers, and the management of their own funds; and Secondly the justice and expediency of the Guildry electing the Dean of Guild; but from the length of time that has elapsed since they exercised that right, the Council at present are not prepared to say that a recognition of it by them alone would be sufficient to enable the Guildry to exercise it effectually now, or to enable the Council to receive as one of their members the Dean elected by the Guildry, in stating this however, the Council desire it to be distinctly understood, that they intend not to oppose any barrier to the resumption of the Guildry’s Rights. Their object on the contrary is to have them placed in legal and incontrovertible grounds; and it is obviously the interest of the Guildry as well as the duty of Council to take care that the Dean of Guild, who besides acting as a Member of the Council has to discharge judicial duties of high importance to the Community in which he has the exclusive jurisdiction, shall be elected in such a manner as to leave no apprehension or doubt as to the legality of his Acts as a Councillor, or of his Decrees as a Judge, for this purpose the Council will most cheerfully concur with the Guildry or their Committee in adopting such measures as shall be found requisite to ensure to the Guidry the right of electing the Dean and to the Council the power of receiving the Dean so elected; that he may take his Seat in Council and perform the duties of his office in such a way as shall protect the election, and the Acts consequent thereon from every Challenge.” That the opinion of eminent Counsel having been afterwards taken, on a Memorial prepared by the Agents for the Parties it was recommended that an application should be presented by the Magistrates & Council, Guildry and Trades to the Convention of Burghs to ratify and approve an alteration of the Sett of the Burgh to the extent required by the Guildry and so warmly approven of by the Magistrates and Council. That the Magistrates & the Council of the following year having entertained a different opinion with regard to the propriety of altering the Sett of the Burgh, they rescinded the resolutions of the former Council, but as this was done without consulting the Trades, it is believed that the proceedings were illegal and that the former resolution of the Magistrates & Council and Trades in favour of the Guildry are still subsisting and may be acted upon; and therefore although the present Magistrates and Council should not grant the prayer of the Petition it is the intention of the Guildry to present an application to the Convention of Burghs praying for an alteration of the Sett to the extent resolved upon by the Magistrates and Council and Trades in 1815 and to found such application on those Resolutions as if they were subsisting and unrescinded. 28
That as the Magistrates and Council must now be fully aware that until the Privileges of the Guildry are restored they cannot enjoy the goodwill and confidence of the Inhabitants it is hoped that they will adopt and confirm the Resolutions passed by their Predecessors in August 1815 and concur with the Guildry and Trades in an application to the next Convention of Burghs for an alteration on the Sett of the Burgh to the extent declared in those resolutions to be just and expedient. May it therefore please your Honours to consider this Petition and To concur in an application to the next Convention of Burghs for an alteration in the Sett of the Burgh to the effect that the Guildry may obtain the right of electing their Dean by the suffrages of the Members of the Incorporation and that the Dean shall hold his Seat as Member of the Toun Council ex officio, and farther that you will be pleased to restore to the Incorporation the right of electing their other office bearers and the management of their own funds. (signed) Ron Jobson, Arch Crichton, John Duff, Edward Baxter, John Peter, John Sturrock, John Gray, James Chalmers, D. Blair Jr., John Croom, W. Fairweather, James Campbell. Charles Brown, James Peat, John Watson, Andrew Mount, James Butchart, Robt. Torbet, Thomas Ivory, Alexr. White, Thomas Baxter Jr., John Whittet Jr., William Cochrane Junior, William Crawford, James Brough, James Soot, John Tod Jr., Pat. Smith, John Ferrier, William Cathro, Alexr. Rob, John How Jr., Andre Garland, James Keiller, David Kea, Jas. Brown, Geo. Nicol Sen., William Bell Snr., John Jolly, Gilbert Pirie, James Young, James Scott, Alexander Pirie, Peter Couper, John Fenton, John Baxter, David Maxwell, David Baxter, James Crockat, James Scott, John Jobson, Geo. Miln, Charles Miller, George Scott, John Watt, David Miln, Rob. Thornton, Charles Rodger, Thomas Watt, George Stephen, P. Gardiner, Rob. Adamson, Rob. Stirling, David Martin, J. B. Miller, John Luke, Rob. Farquharson, William Constable, John Thomson, Jas. Johnstone, Alexander Morison, Thomas Smart, James Watt, Archd. Scott, W. Roberts, David How, Junior, Wm. Bell Jr., William Bisset, William Wilson, Thos. Hood, James Simson, James Cameron, William Shepherd, Thomas Rattray, David Soot, Edward Leslie, William Lesslie, David Watson, James Nicoll, Alexander Edward Senr., A. Edward Jr., John Taylor, James Aberdeen, Ja. Campbell, Will. Baxter, will. Bisset, Henry Bell, William Lindsay, Alexander Lowson, James Saunders, James Doig Jr., Andrew Hood, James Mitchell, John Hutchison, Thomas Dick Jr., David Jobosn, Geo Nicoll, James Duncan Junior, William Ellet, James Webster, William Clark Junior, John Moir, Thomas Neish Jr., Henry Blyth, Graham Batchelor, Robert Mudie, Alexander Kay, David Stephen, Past. White, John Cairncross. 125 Members Dundee 23 rd May 1817 Present 10 members The Clerk laid before the Committee the Petition to the Magistrates resolved upon at a late General Meeting and requested the Meeting to appoint a Sub Committee to get the petition presented to the Toun Council, The Committee appointed Messers Roberts, Lindsay, Miln and Blair a Sub Committee to get the Petition presented. The clerk laid before the Meeting a letter from Messers Gibson, Christie and Wardlaw of which the following is a copy: Edinb 20 May 1817 29
Page 1 and 2: Guildry Sederunt Book Volume Second
Page 3 and 4: The Clerk of the committee paid bef
Page 5 and 6: The Clerk of the Guildry Committee
Page 7 and 8: The Toun Council having unequivocal
Page 9 and 10: The Committee desired the following
Page 11 and 12: e construed into a contempt of the
Page 13 and 14: these meetings have been convened b
Page 15 and 16: present shall, at all times, be int
Page 17 and 18: The Meeting appointed Messers Willi
Page 19 and 20: meeting in the Toun hall of the Sub
Page 21 and 22: hand down to his successors in offi
Page 23 and 24: The Committee resolved to publish t
Page 25 and 26: application to the Convention of Bu
Page 27: The Clerk read the minute of last M
Page 31 and 32: therefore, thus appointed, most res
Page 33 and 34: Price said to have been offered for
Page 35 and 36: and Council, with the advice of the
Page 37 and 38: William Neish, James Adam, William
Page 39 and 40: 14 th Curt and a copy of the Petiti
Page 41 and 42: Clark of his Majesty’s Customs, D
Page 43 and 44: At a General Meeting of the Guildry
Page 45 and 46: Mr Sturrocks motion was carried una
Page 47 and 48: The Meeting thereupon at half an ho
Page 49 and 50: 6 th . That a Committee be appointe
Page 51 and 52: next, which have not yet been audit
Page 53 and 54: a little more for himself than the
Page 55 and 56: power to manage their own affairs.
Page 57 and 58: Mr David Blair Jr thereupon moved t

1815 - 1817 Scroll Book - Nine Incorporated Trades of Dundee

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